Apparatus for reinserting broken filaments into a filament reinforced paper web during formation



sqm., 29, umk

R.. H. BALclf-r 3,151,021'. FCR REZENSERTING BROKEN FILAMENES' k FILAMEN'I' Rmwoacau mm WEB DURING Fam/mmm 2f Sheets-Sheet; 1i.

Fled IMaw 15,

Sept. R; H BALCH APPRTU'S FR REINSERTING BROKEN EILMENTS INTO A REINFORCED" PAPER'. WEBz DURING' FORMTI Filed May 13 1959 2V Sheets-Sneekl 2.

United States Patent O 3,151,021 APPARATUS Fllt ltlllNSERTlNG BRKEN Flint.- MENTS INTO A lTllJAMENT REINFRCED PA- PER WEll DURIN@ FRMATON Ralph lil. Balch, Qharlotte, N.C., assigner to Celanese Corporation of America, New York, NX., a corporation of Delaware Filed May l, 1959, Ser. No. 812,954 9 Claims. (Cl. l62-2o8) This invention relates to filament feeding and positioning, more particularly to means for continuously providing a plurality of spaced filaments.

ln certain manufacturing procedures, such as the making of reinforced paper, it is necessary to supply continuously a plurality of `spaced filaments, ie., a Warp. The job of starting up the equipment is time consuming in that all of the filaments must be manually threaded up. ln addition, in the event of breakage or other interruption of the supply of any `one of the filaments it is necessary to stop the equipment to permit reinsertion of the broken filament end or of a new filament. Additionally Where a plurality of yarn ends are fed to continuous production process equipment, as required in the production of a desired reinforcing matrix, it is generally desirable to be able to vary the spacing between the matrix components, so as to permit different qualities and sizes `of material to be made by the production equipment.

lt is with the above problems in mind that the present means have been evolved, means implementing the continuous feeding of a plurality of spaced filaments from a supply of said filaments to a continuous production process. The novel feeding means minimizes the occurrence of breaks in the filament, eliminates the need for stopping the production process in order to re-insert an interrupted filament and also permits the selective adjustment of the spacing `between the fed filaments. The term lament is here employed to designate any elongate material such Vas yarn, thread, fibers or the like, Whether synthetic or natural, and Whether twisted or not.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide improved filament feeding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide filament feeding means serving to minimize the occurrence of filament breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for making filament-reinforced paper continuously irrespective of discontinuities in the filaments.

An additional object of the invention is to provide feeding means for feeding a plurality of adjustably spaced filament ends.

It :is also an object of the invention lto provide an improved process and apparatus for introducing a filament to a continuous production process.

These and other objects of the invention which will be come apparent in the following disclosure and claims are achieved by provision of novel filament maintaining means t supporting a supply of filament packages in combination with a pneumatic conveyor such as an aspirator for picking up a filament end in a fluid such as air, and means guiding the air along with the filament end `to a selectively adjustable delivery point. The filament supply maintaining means comprises a creol von which a plurality of pairs of filament package supports are mounted. Arranged on the creel are a plurality of aspirators, one for each pair of filament packages. Upon passage of air through an aspirator a filament end supplied to the aspirator Will be `sucked in and carried along with the air to means guiding the air stream to a selected delivery point, said guiding means comprising a flexible tube formed of materials such as polyvinyl plastics, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polyamides, polyesters, or the like. The free ends of the tubes are preferably arranged to be supported byan expander comprising a plurality of hinged panels which permits selective adjustment of the spacing between the filaments fed by the tubes.

A primary feature of the invention resides in the arrangement o-f the air `and filament guiding tube in cornbination with the Creel, suction pick-up, and expander so that the passage of a filament from the creel to the desired delivery point is protected, minimizing dla-ment breakage.

Another feature of the invention resides in he fact that the use of flexible `tubes for guiding the filament to the point of delivery permits positioning of the creel at a distance remote from the delivery point providing for a flexibility of installation.

Another feature of the invention resides in the aforedescribed feed means in combination with a papermaking apparatus to permit continuous production of reinforced paper without interruption even where one or more of the reinforcing filaments temporarily -runs out.

The specific structural details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning, Will be made most manifest and particularly `pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunotion with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FlG. l represents .a schematic perspective view with pants broken away of the novel filament feeding and positioning equipment;

FlG. 2 is a schematic perspective View of a machine for making paper reinforced with laments supplied thereto by the equipment of FlG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through the aspirator shown in FIG. l employed for introducing a filament from the filament packages supported on the creel to the guiding tubes.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing like numera-ls in the various figures Will be taken to designate like parts.

As best `seen in FIG. l, the novel feeding and positioning means lil comprise means maintaining a supply of the filaments -to be fed, in the form of Creel l1. `Creel ll `as illustrated comprises `a plurality of spaced struts l2 between wbich a plurality of vertically spaced cross pieces i3 extend. Angle irons are found most suitable in the fabrication of these struts l2 and cross pieces 13. A plurality of pairs of filament package `supports in the form of pins 14 are arranged on the cross pieces i3 with one pin 1d of each. pair preferably arranged on cross piece l on opposite sides of strut 12.

Supported on the creel in any suitable fashion by means of straps or the like are aspirators l5 one for each pair of pins i4 (only some being shown in FIG. l). As best seen in FlG. 3, theaspirators 15 each comprise an air inlet nozzle 16 directing a stream of compressed air toa charnber 17. The air is conveyed .to each nozzle f6 by an air supply hose 13 coupled to `the nozzle lo by means of hose nipple 19 or the like. All the hoses lli are connected rough a valving device Ztl with a master supply hose 2l so that air can be supplied selectively to one or more `of the aspirators 16. lf desired, however', a single hose l@ may be provided selectively to be attached to Whichever aspirator 16 needs servicing.

Each aspirator lo also includes an air outlet 22 coupled to a flexible guide tube 23 and a filament inlet tube .24 extending into chamber 17 and terminating adjacent air outlet 22. Each tube Z3, one for each aspinator 16, is trained along struts 12, and suitably secured thereto: by means of appropriate fastening devices such as straps or the like. The free end of each tube 23 is thereafter secured to adjustable selective `spacing means in the form of an expander 25.

Expander 25 comprises a plurality of panel members 26 connected by hinges 27 and formed with spaced aligned apertures 28 through each of which the free end of one tube 23 may extend. The hinging between panels 26 permits adjustment of the lateral spacing between tubes 23 extending therethrough. Expander 25 is suitably mounted in any conventional mechanically expedient fashion for positioning adjacent the nip rolls 29 of the equipment to which the filaments are to be fed, as further shown in FIG. 2.

A papernnaking slurry is fed to a large tank 31 which meters it in conventional manner as a mat 32 onto a screen conveyor 33. Excess water is removed from the mat 32 on the conveyor by suction boxes 34. As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the tubes 23 can discharge their filaments onto the conveyor 33 near where the slurry is deposited. The filaments vcan be either uppermost or lowermost depending upon whether they reach the screen after or before the slurry and in FIG. 2 they are lowermost, i.e., between the slurry and screen. From the screen the mat 32 is calendered by rolls 35 and further processed in conventional manner. It will be seen that since the filiaments are conveyed through flexible tubes to the point of incorporation, the tubes need not be perfectly parallel. This permits the creel 11 to be located at one side of the paper-making machine and some distance away from it, which is particularly advantageous in a paper mill. The tubes can be made as long as necessary, taking into consideration the amount of Vfriction between the filaments and tubes and the strength of the filaments.

`positioning thereof in combination with a variety of production equipment to which filaments must be fed. This is implemented by the fiexlbility of guiding tubes 23, and

the fact that they can be made of any desired length. The creel 11 is suitably positioned in any available floor space adjacent the process equipment to be supplied with filaments. Thereafter expander 25 with its associated tubes 23 is arranged adjacent the nip rolls 29 of the process equipment. As is apparent, expander 25 is sufficiently close to nip rolls 29 so that any filaments emerging from tubes 23 will be caught up by the rolls 29.

The creel is loaded with filament packages containing filaments of the type desired for introduction into the process. Upon each pair of pins le two appropriate filament supply packages such as bobbins, cones, cheeses, or the like are arranged. The beginning of the filament on one package of each pair is held near filament inlet 24 and compressed air is selectively supplied to hose 18. In passing around the inner end of tube 24 within chamber 17 and then out outlet 22 into and through tube 23, the compressed air sucks the lament into the tube 23. The rolls 29 are not running and are temporarily separated so that the filament end falls over the lower roll in the space between the rolls. The compressed air is successively and selectively supplied to the other hoses 18, and other filaments are successively and selectively positioned adjacent each inlet 24 at each aspirator 16 until the full warp of filaments lies over the lower nip roll. Nip rolls 29 are brought together and started rotating, supplying the reinforcing filaments to the papermaking equipment.

The end of the filament on one package of each pair is tied to the beginning of the filament on the other package so that upon exhaustion of one of the filament pack-ages, the other may commence feeding. An operator who periodically services the creel will note the empty package and replace it by a full package, the beginning of which is tied to the end of the running package to provide a continuous filament supply.

In the event of a break or other discontinuity in one filament it is not necessary to stop the process to reinsert the broken end. Instead the broken end is brought near the filament inlet 24 of its respective aspirator I6, compressed air is applied to the respective hose 18 and the broken filament is carried to, and then between, rolls 29 to restore the desired running conditions. As is apparent from the drawing, the displacement of the individual panel members 26 with respect to rolls 29 will determine the spacing between the filaments, fthe greater the angle between panel members 26 the greater the spacing between the filaments at their points of entry between rolls 29.

The novel structure may be employed in a variety of situations requiring a plurality `of spaced filaments. Thus the structure may be utilized in conjunction with the fabrication of paper and plastic laminates, and in lthe production of non-woven fabrics. As illustrated the novel structurel has particular applicability in conjunction with the provision of reinforcing yarns `such as high tenacity regenerated cellulose in the production of laminated kraft paper. While the space available to feed filaments into the forming Zone of conventional kraft paper making equipment may be limited, use of the novel filament feeding apparatus here disclosed permits creel 11 to be arranged -at 'any convenient point either on the side or to the rear of the paper machine. Positioning of the expander permits the ready feeding of the filaments to the kraft paper making machine. The spacing between the filaments may be adjusted by varying the angles between the panel members 26 and the filaments fed are protected lin transit by guide tubes 23.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing `from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for making a filament-reinforced fibrous structure comprising, in combination, means for supplying a plurality of filaments, means for selectively picking up each of said filaments Without interfering with the condition of the remainder of said filaments, means for carrying a continuous fibrous structure to be reinforced, and means for conveying each of said filaments from said supplying means to` said fibrous structure, whereby in the event of interruption in one of said filaments the free end thereof can be selectively picked up and reconveyed to said fibrous structure without having to interrupt the continuous operation of the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for conveying said filaments includes a plurality of guides for the respective filaments and a feed means for all of said filaments.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including movable means operatively connected with said guides for selective variation of the lateral distance between the discharge positions of said guides.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively picking up each of said filaments includes a guide for each filament to be supplied as reinforcement, an aspirator for each guide, and means for supplying compressed air to the aspirators.

5. An apparatus for making a filament-reinforced fibrous structure comprising, in combination, means for carrying a continuous fibrous structure, means for supplying a plurality of filaments, an aspirator for each of said filaments to be supplied, a guide for each aspirator, means for supplying compressed air to each aspirator selectively thereby to cause a filament end to be drawn therethrough to its respective guide and thence to said fibrous structure, whereby in the event of a filament break the end can be reinserted by its respective aspirator.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including a pair of feed rolls for receiving all of the filaments from said guide and for feeding them to said fibrous structure.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 including an eX- pander for adjusting the relative spacing between the guides.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for supplying a plurality of filaments comprises a plurality of spaced struts, a plurality of spaced cross pieces interconnecting said struts and forming therewith a support structure, and a plurality of pins projecting from said Support structure for carrying filament bobbins thereon, said guides being mounted on said support structure.

9. The combination of a paper making machine, including means for carrying the paper Web, and means for providing a plurality of reinforcing filaments to said web; said filament providing means comprising means for supplying a plurality of filaments, an aspirator for each of said filaments to be supplied, a guide for each aspirator, and means for supplying compressed air to each aspirator selectively thereby to cause a iilament end to be drawn therethrough to its respective guide and thence to said paper Web; said filament providing means being adapted to reinsert a broken filament end into said paper web.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING A FILAMENT-REINFORCED FIBROUS STRUCTURE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PLURALITY OF FILAMENTS, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PICKING UP EACH OF SAID FILAMENTS WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE CONDITION OF THE REMAINDER OF SAID FILAMENTS, MEANS FOR CARRYING A CONTINUOUS FIBROUS STRUCTURE TO BE REINFORCED, AND MEANS FOR CONVEYING EACH OF SAID FILAMENTS FROM SAID SUPPLYING MEANS TO SAID FIBROUS STRUCTURE, WHEREBY IN THE EVENT OF INTERRUPTION IN ONE OF SAID FILAMENTS THE FREE END THEREOF CAN BE SELECTIVELY PICKED UP AND RECONVEYED TO SAID FIBROUS STRUCTURE WITHOUT HAVING TO INTERRUPT THE CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS. 